Sun And Our Atmosphere Flashcards
Is the result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area.
Air Pressure
The Atmosphere is ______
Heavy
- Closer to Earth=
* Farther from Earth=
- More air pressure
* Less air pressure
______ is a major factor in our weather.
This ______ comes from our sun
Heat
___ _________ is usually measured using a thermometer.
Air temperature
This measuring tool works because liquids expand when they are heated and contract (shrink) when they are cooled.
Thermometer
The Earth is heated by the suns ____.
Rays
The air above Earth is warmed by ______ _______.
Earths Surface
Warmer Air Rises= ?
Low pressure
Cooler air sinks= ?
High pressure
A wind is the horizontal movement of air from an area of ____ pressure to an are of ___ pressure.
High
Low
Winds are caused by ________ in air pressure.
Differences
______ ______ blow from a specific direction over long distances.
Global Winds
Warm air rises at the _______ and sinks at the ______.
Equator
Poles
Air blows from the equator toward the _____ and from the poles to the equator.
Poles
Because of Earths rotation, global winds do not blow straight up and down from the equator to the poles and back. What is this?
The Coriolis Effect
Winds are _____.
Curved
Northern Hemisphere winds turn to the _____.
Right
Southern Hemisphere winds turn toward the ____.
Left
The Coriolis effect and other factors combine to produce areas of calm winds.
Doldrums
Located near the equator where wind does not low.
*Sailors avoid this area so that they do not become stranded.
Doldrums
The Coriolis effect also causes the ___ ______.
Jet Stream
The _____ ______ is located about 10 kilometers above Earths surface and are bands of high speed winds.
- Generally blow from east to west
- Travels around the Earth moving North and South in a wavy path.
Jet Stream
Both of these play an important role in our weather
Prevailing westerlies and the polar easterlies
